Court tape for games



Jan. 8, 1935. H, c. PEARSON I COURT TAPE FOR GAMES Filed Oct. 11, 1933 'Patented Jan. 8, 1935 t i UNITED STATES O R T P Henry QQBearson, Pasadena; Callf. J Application ctober 11, 1333; SeriaIINoJQSJOS' 1 t i Claims; (c1, ave-$1 5 invention, Specifically relates to an. imthat when.used .;to;orm the 'courtgof an indoor proved tape for laying out the court in such games game, its weight automatically obviates the necesas shuflie ball, badminton, and tennis. i sity of any attaching means, and thus providing In its principal object, the invention-embraces asubstantially:satisfaetoryindoor courtinwhich 5 a metallic tape. in substitution for the common thefioorneednohbe damaged by any attaching 55 cotton tape universally employed for said purpose. meansgi l l p i An important object is the provision of atape V Other important objects of the invention :not that will withstandthe common defects of cotherein specifically enumerated will readily Dreton tapein that it is proof against mildew, fungi sent themselves as the-present'invention ismore 0 and insect 'pests", common to any product of the definitely understood, all of which ;objectsI attextilel art when left to the elements, and/or tain by-the herein describedspecification of .my otherwise subjected to thehard treatment I the court tape, and asiillustrated inthe accompanytape is subjectedto on the playing field. ing-drawingdn which: v I Manufactured-from a practically. nomcorrod: Figurelis a plan yiew of a skeleton type of I 5 ing material, light in weight but substantially shufileballcourt wherein thetapcomprisingmy 5 serviceable for theuses intended; another imimproved invention is-invpara but gpartially ex- U portantpbjectof mytin ventionis the production tendedto' completethecourtenclosuraas shown;

011 a court tape that will withstand constant use Figure 211s a rsectionrztaken on the g-line- 2.--2,

for long periods of time and thusfmaterially en- Fig. 1; l -5 K:

2 hance the invention as an economic factor in Figure3;;isairagmentary planlviewof Fig. 2; contrast to the frequent replacement costs en- )Figure idsan isometricalaviewl"showingthe tailed inthe use oi cottontapei for .courtpurtape inverted; taken:atzonepof themid attachposes. Moreovenhaving independentground or ingpointsp 1 1 z s lawn engagingmeans, it is the more easily at- Figure 5 isganisometricalview showing a modi- 2 tached than any metallic tape having integral fled formtof end constructionof the tape: attachsharp-pointed prongs as an attaching means. ing means; u H 1. r .1 H

V L Another important'feature. ofthepresent in- Figure; 6 -being a .similar viewv showing; said vention is thatit readily adapts itself to many modification-adapted to the; mid; sec'tion"of the satisfactory designs forground or lawnattach tape; l q i i '1:

ment, beingreadily out todesiredlength and Figurel'l isan isometricalfview showing a fur- 30 shape. ther end modification .ofithe tape-"attaching ,..A further important object of the. invention is means; i, i i r g 5.: that it may bew form fitted to varying designs, as q Figure: :8--being a. similar view. showing said in itsadaptationto shufiie ball courtsgf or eicarna modification adaptedqtothe mid section of the ple, antivwhen so laid, positively retains its form tape,and "1. 1 a it r y 35 irrespective of the amount offplay andplay'ers Figure; 9 isianisometrical view typifying transactions it is subjected to. l verserecessesft'o receive aplnmeans .or;xother A Still f t important bl- C? h t th attaching 'means-isucl'r,as-thestapleshown. court tape isquickly placed intoposition' for use, "Similarwnumerals'and;letterszof referenceindiwill not stretch' out of i-shapefland loosen as is cate like:partsthroughoutrtheseveralbviews,the 40 customary with cotton tape, lies taut under all letter .FAZ thus: indicating the ground-o1. lawn conditions: of weatherand play, and ofiersjno ob constitutingthe playing field; B. thezflill length stacle or obstruction tothe free movementYof the surfacebaseisectionsa of tape inaskeleton court ball. a .1 i f 3 1 adapted to" the: g'ame fof :shuflie balLUfO 1 short fA furt'her object of .the invention. is the pro- IengtIrsurfaoeFbase sectionsmaking 'upxthe' same vision of a court tapewhich will at all timesand court, andi-FD?aspinr'attachingmeanszfor secure 'under conditions rernain absolutely close to ingithetapeto tha'playinggsurface:gNumeral10 the attaching surface, thus, when attached to a indicatesifiangesv'iorrnedz'by bending theisides: of lawn, permitting close operation of the lawn the tapez-upon themselves; .TIhiseserves-atthreemower when mowing the lawn, experience havfold purpose. 1st it strengthens the tape as a ing amply demonstrated the fact'that a lawn Whole, 2nd, provides additionalstifiness to assure may be closely mowed without the mower as much the tapes lying taut, and 3rd, provides a finished as contacting the court tape. This is of paraedge as a measure of safety to guard against acmount importance for. well kept lawns. cidental cutting of the hand in handling the tape 5 Another importantobject of the invention is and may even be said to provide a 4th purpose the tape. I

11 comprises a depression in the body portion of the base comprising the tape proper. It serves to confine the pin head 14 and retain it flush with the uppermost portion of the tape, the pin proper extending through a hole 12, the tape as disclosed in Fig. being bent upon itself as at 15,

i To provide proper mid sectional 1 attaching means, separate sectional elements 18 are securely held to the tape proper by gripping them:under andbetweenthe tape flanges 10,, thesectional element 18 being formed with a raised shoulder 19 to provide clearance for the reception of a pin head 14, the pin engaging element 13 through a hole 20"andiss1ida'bly positioned therein by means of the recess "formed by the engaging slot 21.' a I In the modified form described in Fig. '7, a separate end member or tab 22 is secured'to' the tape by gripping between theunderside of the tape flanges-said tab 22 being bent upon itself to form a -rolled or tubular opening 23 wherein the U shaped staple ElS-:piVOta11y secured to the tab by the staple head, a somewhat sim'ilar element 25 having a .depressedcentrally aflixed portion 26 for pivotally engaging the staple head 24 is secured where desired along thetape proper by means of the tape flanges 10, a-furth'er modification'being disclosed in Fig. 9 whereinthe tape B is provided with a recess portion 27 to-accommodate the staple head24, the latter when thus engaged, substantially filling the recess'27 so as to provide a practically continuous unbroken surface of the tape proper, it being un derstood that as many sectional elements regardless of type are employed as appear necessary by the length of the tape strips to secure 1yhold the same in close conta'ctwith the surface areamfthe playing field upon which the court is formed, the attaching means being readily removable or swungout of the way so as to lie flat with 'the tape in order toreduce the"bulk and for ease in packing and carriage. i I It is obvious that the varying types of modificationsof tape -:attaching means herein disclosed under certain conditions may excel each" other, and; that other modifications may from time readily suggest themselves.

As a practical article of manufacturefit is also apparentthatmy-improvedmetallic tape may readily be constructed of 'material obtainable-in the open marketand at very little expense,'thereby providing'a game courttape v not only low in its initial "cost, but economical in' co'ntinuous use. .-I. am aware that modifications may from time to timel'bermade in the details of'construction for the .purposexof further-improving the serviceabilityof the invention without departing, however, from the scope of'the present disclosure. I nce, Ido not limit my presentinvention to the ex ct descriptionof. construction herein disclosed, but what I do'clairn'as new and novel is:

l, I a a ticle or theclassde cr be a time-to tional metallic surface base element having its sides turned upon themselves forming flanges, a tab secured thereby, said tab having a rolled or tubular staple attaching portion, a U shaped staple having mutually parallel leg portions and a head portion, said head portion pivotally enaging said tubular staple attaching portion and whereby said mutually parallel leg portions of said staple are adaptable to secure said sectional metallic surface base element to the surface of the game playing field to comprise the game court.

1 2. In an article of the class described, a sec- ;tional metallic surface base element comprising a tape adapted to form a game court, said element ha'ving its sides turned upon themselves to form flanged sides and having a body portion therebetween, a mid sectional tab element having a rolled or tubular portion midway thereof, said mid sectional element secured to said sectional' surface base element by grippingbetween said flanged sides, a staple pivotally mounted in said roller or tubular tab portion and having its leg members in swinging radius with relation a to said tape, said staple comprising a means whereby said tape'is secured to the playing field ple attaching tabs having a depressionforme dine tegral therein and adapted to pivotably receive av staple having mutually parallel legs, a staple having mutually parallel legs, said staple in en 9 gagement with said depression formed mean tabs. and said mid sectional tabs secured to said metallic surface base by gripping thesame under the inturned sides forming the flanged sides of said metallic surface base.

4. In an article of the class described, a metallic tape'for forming game courts, comprising a sectional base element having its sides turned upon themselves forming flanges, midsectional tabs secured thereto by gripping between said upturned sides forming said flanges, said mid sectional tabs having a depression integrally thereof and adapted'to receive a staple in pivoted engagementtherewith, said staple adapted to secure said tape to the playing field in forming said game court. I v

5. In an article of the class described, a sectional" metallic longitudinal body comprising a surface layout means for forming game playing courts, and having its longitudinal body inturned 

